Vice President-elect JD Vance made one of his first public appearances since the November election by surveying the damage from Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina. The hurricane, which struck in late September, caused at least $53 billion in damage and resulted in the deaths of over 100 residents. Vance visited the Fairview Volunteer Fire Department, where he learned about the challenges faced by first responders during the storm.
In an area known for its Democratic leanings, Vance discussed the destruction caused by Helene, which affected many voters in the state. The Republican Vice President-elect criticized the Biden administration’s relief efforts in response to the hurricane. AP VoteCast found that a significant portion of North Carolina voters were impacted by the storm, with 53% of those voters supporting President-elect Donald Trump.
State lawmakers have allocated over $900 million in disaster relief, but Governor Roy Cooper has requested at least $3.9 billion in aid from the federal government. The slow progress in rebuilding infrastructure, such as roads and water systems, has been a concern for residents. Many have been critical of the initial recovery operations by both the federal government and the state administration.
Housing for displaced residents during the winter has become a pressing issue, with some blaming GOP lawmakers for failing to provide assistance to small businesses and renters at risk of eviction. Governor Cooper and other state leaders have now requested $25 billion in federal aid to help with the ongoing recovery efforts.
Source
Photo credit www.wxii12.com